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Name: Andrew
Is it better to keep your PC running around the clock or to switch it off every night? Is resuming from standby easier on the internel components than physically powering on?
I use my PC every day and switch it on and off every day. Are modern PCs less susceptible to dry joints (having their soldering weakened by warming up and cooling down caused by poweing on and off)
Any opinions?
My 2cents worth is it depends on the pc. If the pc perform better left on leave it on. If the pc perform better turn off and on then turn off and on.
However, that stated I think that you should turn pc off once in a while to clean any OS issue that might build up during it beening on all the time.
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I never used a computer until after I retired. I was used to shuting off my car when I was finished using it, turning off the TV when I was finished watching it, and turning off lights when I no longer needed them, so it was only natural to shut off my computer when I was done using it.
I must have had my computer 3 or 4 months before I learned that some people kept theirs running 24 hours a day, and by that time shutting down when I was finished had become a habit.
I've been turning my computer on and off 5 or 6 times a day for over three years, and it hasn't ever created a problem.
I know it seems the computer is a 110 volt AC appliance because it plugs into a wall outlet, but the only component that runs on 110 volts is the power supply. Nothing else operates at more than 12 volts DC, and 12 volts DC just doesn't stress anything very much.
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heres my bit for ur perusal !!my machine is switched on 24/7
monitor goes off opvernight sometimes thats it
its a very big healthy upto date handbuilt machine and soldiers on and on with no trouble atall!!
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I leave mine on 24/7 purely because I find it easier than shutting it down when I'm not using it..........I can just come to it and use it straight off insead of booting it up........The only time this PC has been off in 5 months is when I had a power cut for 20 minutes...........The only thing I worry about is if the CPU fan stops working..........still how long will it take for the core to reach 95ºC with no CPU fan I wonder? I'm not sure how much it reduces the life of the individual components but by the time they fail I'm sure they'll be obselete history. I think a non-overclocked CPU should last 10 years, overclocked 5 years.
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Thanks guys,
I think that maybe I will leave mine turned on all the time. I'm sure the sudden shock to the system of powering up cant do the system any good - so leaving it on is probably best.
Rather than shut down I will just use standby. Does anyone one know what standby does? It sounds like it stops the disk and fan from spinning, but jumps back to life as soon as you move the mouse.
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Here's what an expert says.
Keeping it on all the time.
Pros: you get immediate access to the computer. Nice to have. You also don't have to close all your documents when you're done with them, you can keep them open. Just make sure you save the stuff first.
Cons: extra wear on components, because they are running more. Extra friction equals extra wear. You also waste electricity (small thing, but it's there).
Now, as to which to do.
If your computer is in a building with a controlled environment (not many temperature fluctuations, relatively stable humidity, etc), you can safely turn off the computer. There will be no stresses on your system. However, if you use it say, in a swimming pool with high humidity, or in a kitchen that frequently gets hot then cold, leaving the computer on will allow the system's cooling mechanisms keep the parts working optimally. The temperature changes will weaken solder connections, and humidity will rot just about everything within your system, especially condensation!
So, based on what you use the computer for, there are options. If at home, it's up to you. I leave mine on because it's always running SETI and Kazaa, and I also like to just plop down and start working. It's up to you.
Mittens
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My 2 cents, shutdown your computer before going to bed! Reason is a computer has moving parts(these days most have at least 2 cooling fans) and electronic components called capacitors which do wear out over time even if your machine is just sitting there. The best motherboards use the best capacitors, which are not all equal. A few bad caps will cause the most harrowing, unidentifiable problems. Remember "heat kills electronic components".
Do we leave our tv's on but muted before we go to bed?
Let it chill and rest!
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I leave my system on.
Everytime you hit the power switch on the computer there is a slight surge of power through the entire system. Power surges are the enemy.
Also As stated, changing temperatures will weaken the solder joints in the computer. Turning your computer on and off, changes the temperature.
Plus If you turn you computer on and off 6 times, you just wasted enough power to run it for a whole day. EVERY device that uses electricity takes more power (sometimes even double) to power up than it does to keep running.
If you have to run into a building for only 5 minutes do you shut off your car? of course not - it wastes gas, same principal
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You can go to bed with it if you want at least in the morning it wont spend as much time in the bathroom as the wife..
Only joking i leave mine powered on the wall so as my surge protecter still works(wont if i take it out of the wall as my phone cable is in it) . But i turn the monitor and the case off at the case...
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I keep my system running 24/7 because several reasons, i can download stuff from net when sleeping and its more easy to start using computer at morning without turning it on first. Ben was wondering how fast CPU core will burn if fan shuts down, it takes some seconds, but i have option in BIOS to shut computer off if fan stops for some reason...
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